DUBAI: Some of the region’s most celebrated content creators — including Bahrain’s Omar Farooq, the UAE’s Anas Bukhash, Morocco’s Taha Essou, Palestine’s Haifa Beseisso and Egypt’s Sherif Nabil — have premiered powerful short films in collaboration with YouTube to mark the platform’s 20th anniversary.
“For years, creating and distributing entertainment was limited to major studios. Today, we’re at an inflection point — YouTube creators are the entertainment industry’s new startups,” said Tarek Amin, YouTube’s regional director for the Middle East, Africa and Turkiye, during the premiere in Dubai this weekend.
These creators, who amass billions of views across their channels, showcased deeply personal stories that transcend borders and languages, highlighting YouTube’s role as a platform for emotional storytelling and global connection.
The shift reflects a wider trend across the region with YouTube creators across the Middle East and North Africa rapidly becoming entertainment startups.
Companies such as Telfaz11, which has offices in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, have scaled from popular YouTube series to successful feature films.
Bukhash’s signature charm and curiosity is reflected in his film “ABtalks Diaries: Korea Edition.” The work follows him on a journey through South Korea where he interviews chefs, artists, and members of the public.
Despite a glaring language barrier, Bukhash draws out surprisingly intimate moments, proving that vulnerability is a universal language. “We did this because we realized Arabs are obsessed with K-Pop,” Bukhash joked on stage.
In “Into the Dark,” Beseisso documents her four-day stay in a darkness retreat. Blending humor and reflection, her film becomes a deeply personal meditation on silence, emotion and reconnection — with herself and others.
“I heard about the darkness retreat from a friend and was intrigued,” she told Arab News. “I went, closed my eyes for three days, and it turned out to be one of my favorite experiences.”
In “Into the Fire: Mount Ijen,” Nabil documents the harsh realities of sulfur miners working in Indonesia’s active volcanic mountain. He exposes the conditions these workers face and the generational impact of their labor.
“YouTube gives you that intimacy,” Nabil said. “It’s a challenge, but it’s rewarding.”
The connection between these filmmakers lies in their ability to confront discomfort, explore untold stories, and share them with candor.
“This event is not for us,” Bukhash reflected. “It’s for the people at home wondering if they should start, and need that extra push.”
